Fifth Arafat Government Explained

Flag:Flag of Palestine.svg
Flag Border:true
Date Formed:October 2002
Date Dissolved:April 29, 2003
Government Head:Yasser Arafat
State Head:Yasser Arafat
Total Number:6
Previous:Palestinian Authority Government of June 2002
Successor:Palestinian Authority Government of April 2003

The Palestinian Authority Government of October 2002 was a government of the Palestinian National Authority (PA) from October 2002 to April 2003, headed by Yasser Arafat, the President of the Palestinian National Authority. The Cabinet was largely equal to the June Government, from which six Ministers had resigned.

In April 2003, the next Government led by Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas was established.

Powers and jurisdiction

Pursuant to the Oslo Accords, the authority of the PA Government was limited to some civil rights of the Palestinians in the West Bank Areas A and B and in the Gaza Strip, and to internal security in Area A and in Gaza.

2003 Basic Law changes

After the dismissal of the Government, no elections were held. On 18 March 2003, Arafat signed the 2003 Amended Basic Law,[1] which transformed the political system into a semi-presidential one. The post of Prime Minister was created,[2] who became responsible for the composition of the Cabinet and became the Chairman of the "Council of Ministers".

Mahmoud Abbas was named as the proposed first Prime Minister on 6 March 2003,[3] and appointed on 19 March 2003. Abbas became the head of the next Government on 29 April.[4]

Members of the Government

Index[5] MinisterOfficeParty
0Yasser ArafatPresident of "Council of Ministers"
1Salam FayyadFinanceIndependent
2Hani al-HasanInteriorFatah
3Yasser Abed RabboInformation and CulturePalestine Democratic Union (FIDA)
4Nabil ShaathPlanning and International CooperationFatah
5Na'im Abu al-HummusEducationFatah
6Intissar al-WazirSocial AffairsFatah
7Nabeel KassisTourism and AntiquitiesIndependent
8Zuhair SouraniJusticeIndependent
9Saeb ErekatLocal GovernanceFatah
10Azzam al-AhmadHousingFatah
11Maher al-MasriEconomy, Trade and IndustryFatah
12Abdel Rahman HamadEnergy and Natural ResourcesFatah
13Rafiq al-NatshehAgricultureFatah
14Ahmad al-ShibiHealthFatah
15Ghassan KhatibLaborPalestinian People's Party
16Mitri Abu EitaTransportation and TelecommunicationIndependent
17Abdul Aziz ShahinRationsIndependent
18Samir GhoshehOrient House DirectorIndependent
19Hisham Abdul RazeqPrisoners AffairsFatah

See also

Notes and References

  1. http://www.palestinianbasiclaw.org/basic-law/2003-amended-basic-law 2003 Amended Basic Law
  2. http://www.robat.scl.net/content/NAD/faqs/faqs/prime_minister.php The Palestinian Prime Minister: A Reference Guide
  3. http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/03/06/palestinian.pm/ Arafat chooses Palestinian prime minister
  4. http://www.mideastweb.org/abumazen.htm Inaugural Speech - Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmud Abbas
  5. https://web.archive.org/web/20021118224640/http://www.jmcc.org/politics/pna/newpnacabinet.htm PNA Government